City Diary

Edited by Carolyn Batt

12:01AM BST 09 Aug 2002

Edited by Carolyn Batt(Filed: 09/08/2002)

Net's cuckoos make mockery of private bankers' website

Lafferty Group, publisher of such light holiday reads as Electronic Payments International and Private Banker International, claims to operate "in the field of consumer financial services and related banking subjects".

Subtitled "temptations@work", the site offers temping services - not just the usual administrative personnel, but also escorts, hosts and "our famous Sexetaries".

Lafferty spokesman John Evans coughs awkwardly when I ask him about it, and says he can't comment, but confirms the site is Lafferty's.

Later, publisher Francesca Carnevale calls back with a different tale. The web address was once theirs, she claims, but has now been taken over by cyber-squatters.

"We have warned all our subscribers not to go there," she adds, clearly not schooled in the art of reverse psychology. "I think our readers will find a lot more information relevant to their business on our main website."

Chock full of beans

It's tough being the Chocolate King. Anthony Ward, head of cocoa trading company Armajaro, hit the headlines after an Ivory Coast newspaper noticed he was gobbling up slabs of the world's cocoa.

Worried about whether to hoard KitKats, I call Armajaro to discuss which way the beans are likely to jump next. The boss, I'm told, is on holiday, so I get chatting to the nice chap on the other end of the line.

Eventually I ask who I'm talking to. "Anthony Ward," comes the confession. "I'm getting a little fed up with all the media attention.

" Those beans, by the way, which have doubled in two years, still have some way to jump, says Ward. Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?

Money men and motors

The boys at private equity firm Primary Capital have been keeping busy over the quiet summer period, revving their engines go-karting and car racing.

Director Merrick McKay, back from three months in Australia and the Amazon, is chief petrol-head. After becoming "Driver of the Day" at a Royal Bank of Scotland do, he is now warming up to race Ernst & Young at the King's Cross Raceway.

"We're up against the corporate finance department," McKay says. "There'll be four of us against eight of them." Doesn't that seem a little unfair? "We'll be relying on excellent driving skills," McKay purrs. "But we might let them win. I'll certainly be saying that if we lose."

Fisher report flounders

An offer arrives for City Equities research report on Albert Fisher, the seafood-to-frozen veggies supplier. It promises a detailed, independent view of the company's "current performance and future prospects".

As Albert Fisher went bust in May, I imagine it's a short report. City Equities marketing manager Alistair Markham concedes "the letter was perhaps a bit misrepresentative", but adds that it was simply a summary of the bad news.

It was designed to go to potential clients, including Albert Fisher shareholders. Rubbing salt into the wound, I'd say.

Press home the advantage

Anglo-Dutch publisher Reed Elsevier linked yesterday's London press conference with another in Amsterdam, and, when the UK scribblers were assembled, the screen was switched on to reveal. . . a row of empty chairs.

"The Dutch press are not the well-organised pack we have here," ventured Reed Elsevier big cheese Crispin Davis.

"Now, now" countered his finance director, Mark Armour, worrying about coverage in Holland's papers. But Davis was not put off, and later noted that the continental contingent failed to ask a single question. Not short of Dutch courage, I trust.

Stand up if you work in a baker's

Mike Darrington, head of Greggs the bakers, calls from Edinburgh where he's been slogging round the Festival.

Greggs, somewhat bravely, agreed to sponsor a comedy routine set in one of their shops - without having read the script.

"There was a fair amount of bawdy black humour," Darrington says, whilst professing to have enjoyed the experience.

"The comediennes involved were very good, but they would have needed massive retraining if they ever wanted to be Greggs staff. They didn't seem to know anything about health and safety."